Thread: Business Owner Indicted for Hiring, Hiding Illegal Immigrant

Business Owner Indicted for Hiring, Hiding Illegal Immigrants

POSTED: 5:07 pm CDT April 21, 2008
UPDATED: 10:53 pm CDT April 21, 2008


COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa -- A federal grand jury has indicted the owner of a Council Bluffs clothing distribution company for hiring and harboring scores of illegal immigrants.

According to a criminal complaint obtained by KETV NewsWatch 7, Daryl Leise ignored inquiries from the Social Security Administration, dating back to 2002.

A federal investigation found employees of American Clothing Co. were employed using Social Security numbers in use by others in the United States. Two workers were employed with the Social Security numbers of deceased Americans.

American Clothing Company was raided by federal agents in March.

The company gathers donations from collection boxes, many of which are labeled as VFW boxes. Investigators said illegal workers sort donations for resale. The clothes are distributed to one of the company's five area Thrift World stores or sent to Guatemala or Honduras, documents show.

Leise wouldn't comment.

Previous Stories:
March 26, 2008: ICE Makes Raid On Council Bluffs Clothing Company
http://www.ketv.com:80/news/15950152/detail.html

Published Tuesday | April 22, 2008
Business owner charged with hiring illegal immigrants
BY CINDY GONZALEZ
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10317026

A federal grand jury has charged the owner of a Council Bluffs secondhand clothing distribution company with knowingly hiring illegal immigrants.

The indictment against Daryl Leise follows a March immigration raid at American Clothing Co., based at 3211 Nebraska Ave. Sixteen employees were arrested for being in the country illegally.

Leise and his attorney were not available for comment Tuesday.

Investigators found that several employees were using Social Security numbers that weren't assigned to them, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Iowa. The alleged wrongdoing occurred over a six-year period starting in 2002, the complaint said.

American Clothing collects donated goods at drop boxes, then sorts and resells items to five Omaha-area Thrift World stores or exports them to other countries, the complaint says.